The Lincoln Project’s First Congressional Class in 2026
The Lincoln Project
The Lincoln Project
4.6 • 9.1K Ratings
🗓️ 17 February 2026
⏱️ 82 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
For the first time ever, alumni of The Lincoln Project are running for Congress — and the 2026 midterms just shifted. In this special double-header, Rick sits down with Fred Wellman, running in St. Louis, Missouri (MO-02), and George Conway, running in New York, New York (NY-12), to break down what it means for the Lincoln Project to move from ads and strategy to actual ballots and House races. They dive into the stakes of the 2026 election, the fight to flip Congress, the threat of MAGA extremism, and why veterans, constitutional conservatives, and rule-of-law Republicans are stepping up in key swing districts. From the battle for the House majority to the broader fight to protect democracy, this episode unpacks the strategy, the map, and the momentum behind a political movement turning into candidates — and why this moment could redefine the future of Congress. #LincolnProject #2026Midterms #Congress #MAGA #Election2026
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You can find George Conway @gtconway3d on X, on Bluesky @gtconway.bsky.social, and at his campaign website, www.georgeconwayforcongress.com.
You can find Fred Wellman on X @FPWellman, on Bluesky @fpwellman.bsky.social, and at his campaign website, www.wellmanformo.com. You can also check out his podcast, 'On Democracy with FPWellman.’
Rick Wilson is on X at @TheRickWilson, on Bluesky at @TheRickWilson.bsky.social, and you can check out Rick's Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. You can check out more of LP's work at www.lincolnproject.us and on X at @ProjectLincoln.
Visit www.bollandbranch.com/lincoln, and use code ‘LINCOLN’ for 15% off your first order + free shipping. #ad
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, everybody. I'm your host, as always, Rick Wilson here on the Lincoln Project podcast. |
| 0:03.4 | Really appreciate you tuning in, as always. We've got a great doubleheader show today, |
| 0:08.3 | and it's a crazy statistic that there is not one, but two, Lincoln Project alumni running for |
| 0:14.0 | Congress this year. Now, there are rumors that I'm running for Congress in Florida CD2. I am not. |
| 0:19.7 | I have a candidate there I'm supporting |
| 0:21.0 | already, but I appreciate the attention. Thank you for the, for the, thank you for the kind |
| 0:26.7 | wishes, but that is not in the cards. I've got other work to do to help save democracy across the |
| 0:31.2 | board, so I will not be making a run for Congress this year. I'm supporting Nixon-Teslo down there. |
| 0:37.0 | He is a terrific candidate |
| 0:38.1 | Florida CD2. Check him out. But in the meantime, we have got two Lincoln Project Greats, |
| 0:42.8 | co-founder George Conway, and our former executive director and former director of our veterans |
| 0:48.5 | operation, Fred Wellman. George is running in New York, and Fred is running in the great |
| 0:53.1 | state of Missouri. I am delighted to have both of them on the show today, and Fred is running in the great state of Missouri. |
| 0:57.5 | I am delighted to have both of them on the show today, and I think you will enjoy it. |
| 0:58.6 | Let's get right to it. |
| 1:04.5 | Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped in battle-hearted. |
| 1:11.2 | There is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America. |
| 1:15.1 | Good night and good luck. |
| 1:17.8 | Well, folks, welcome back to the Lincoln Project podcast. |
| 1:22.4 | I am absolutely delighted to bring you our good friend of Lincoln Project co-founder. |
| 1:26.9 | And now a candidate for Congress from the great city of New York. It is George Conway. The one, the only. The man who |
| 1:31.7 | has been a thorn and Donald Trump side, as long as I have it in some ways even more viciously. |
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